BHP Billiton added 0.5 per cent to $27.62, Rio Tinto rose 0.65 per cent to $68.12 and Fortescue Metals was 0.85 per cent stronger at $5.93.

Gold miners were also stronger after gold prices surged to their highest levels in nearly a year as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid worries that North Korea might launch more missiles.

Newcrest Mining ascended 0.7 per cent to $23.48.

The Australian dollar was boosted by strong government spending and net exports in the June quarter, which prompted economists to upgrade their economic growth forecasts.

The local currency jumped to 79.83 US cents soon after the release of the data, before easing ahead of the Reserve Bank’s decision to keep the cash rate on hold at 1.5 per cent, and then rising again late in local trade.